Classic Yacht Rally

This year was the 20th anniversary of the Aberdeen Boat Club's Classic Yacht Rally. Eight boats set off from Tai Tam Bay on Saturday, the 24th of May, and sailed in company to Cascade Bay in Port Shelter for a memorable prize-giving and buffet. What the event lacked in numbers, more than made up for in spirit. The rain came and the rain went, the fog lifted and the wind picked up. On the party junk, the wine flowed, the laughter got louder and the happy sailors made it one to remember.

The Classic Yacht Rally also welcomes powerboats and 2025 saw the participation of the 1934 classic, Java, formerly Marine 1, launched in 1935 at Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock. Other old timers joined the event, including the historic wooden ketch, Jadalinkir, built in Australia in 1946.

A Taipan 28, Scheherazade, built in Pak Sha Wan in 1972, sail number C6, joined the fun with its tan bark sails and three-man crew in orange polo shirts. The former Island Fling, a successful racing yacht in the 1990s, home and abroad, now named Lulu, also appeared along with the double-ender, Bowline, a graceful 41-foot Hans Christian, Bowline.

Rally officer, Jono Slattery, welcomed everybody at 1120 and announced Route 2 which would take in Cape d'Aguilar, TCS2, Steep Island, Trio, Shelter to starboard and into Cascade Bay (Kau Sai Wan) on the southern side of Kau Sai Chau. The distance would be some 15 nautical miles and he reminded everyone to stay well clear of commercial shipping. Low tide would be at 1323.

The rally began at 1130 in a breeze of 8 knots from the northeast. This had the fleet moving fairly quickly through the Beaufort Channel (Sheung Sze Mun) and out into open water. But it didn't last.

Off Clearwater Bay, the fog reduced visibility to a hundred or so metres and the wind began to die. Next came the rain. With boats stationary, facing all directions and barely moving, there were worries that some of the tailenders would give up and retire. They didn't, and the rally continued.

Little could be seen in any direction, just dark shapes of nearby islands. Occasionally, a Hobie 16 sail would provide some colour but then it would disappear. Occasionally, far away, thunder could be heard.

Out of the whiteness, a ketch approached the officials' boat. It was Jadalinkir from Shelter Cove. Owner, Nick Colfer, had come to ask Slattery if he could join the rally and the party! Affirmative, came the reply. Jadalinkir then set off – destination Cascade Bay. Interestingly, in its earlier days, Jadalinkir had featured a bath tub with hot and cold running water!

The party junk soon arrived in Cascade Bay and the club's P4 sampan began ferrying people aboard. The rain stopped, the clouds lifted and the junk's aft deck, foredeck and upper deck filled with sailors and friends enjoying sundowners and the hospitality of the catering staff. Commodore Chris Pooley arrived in time to make a welcoming speech.

Then came the much-anticipated prize-giving with rear commodore sailing, Chris Perret, in great form giving impersonations and presenting bottles of wine to:

      First sailboat to the anchorage : Five O One
      First powerboat to the anchorage : Java
      Concours d'Elegance winner : Bowline
      Oldest yacht : Java (1935)
      Most colourful crew : Scheherazade
      Best performing classic yacht : Jadalinkir
      Spirit of the event : The Farr Side

If that wasn't enough, there were also bottles of wine for:

      Solo sailor : Karma
      Most laps of the anchorage before dropping anchor : Lulu